The Public Art Fund Party celebrated art, community, and play with a playful twist, featuring ping pong tables, living portrait installations, and silent auctions.
The atmosphere at the Public Art Fund Party was decidedly playful, bringing together artists, creatives, and philanthropists for a night to remember. The celebration marked the official kickoff of the organization’s spring and summer programming, featuring exhibitions by renowned artists.
Established in 1977, the Public Art Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing innovative and thought-provoking public art to New York City.
With over 200 projects completed since its inception, the fund has become a leading force in urban art, commissioning works from renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, and Ai Weiwei.
The Public Art Fund's mission is to make art accessible to all, and it achieves this through large-scale installations, site-specific commissions, and collaborations with museums and galleries.
Ping Pong Tables and Artist-Designed Paddles
In a nod to the upcoming exhibition ‘Between Tides,’ which showcases sculptural ping-pong tables by emerging and mid-career artists, the party featured artist-designed keepsake paddles. These unique paddles were stocked on ping pong tables, adding an extra layer of playfulness to the evening’s festivities.
Living Portrait Installation and Silent Auction
Carmen Winant invited guests to become part of a living, breathing portrait installation as the night progressed. Later, a silent auction featuring work by forty-one contemporary artists kept patrons and collectors busy until the afterparty. The event also showcased the talents of DJs MeLo-X and Juliana Huxtable, accompanied by Chef Malcolm Livingston II’s ice cream bar.
Carmen Winant is an American painter and artist known for her large-scale, site-specific installations that explore the intersection of personal narrative and historical context.
Born in 1970 in New Jersey, Winant's work often incorporates found images, texts, and objects to create immersive experiences that challenge traditional notions of art and history.
Her notable works include 'A is for a (Bicycle Spoken Here)' and 'The Undeclared)', which have been exhibited internationally.
Art World Insiders and A-List Guests
The crowd was filled with art world insiders, including Richard Armstrong, Marcela Guerrero, Jean Cooney, Solana Chehtman, Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, Suhaly Bautista Carolina, Natasha Logan, and tastemakers Nimay Ndolo and Kira Lokhmatova. Notable guests included actor ‘Paul Rudd‘ and producer ‘Julie Yaeger,’ who were listed among the evening’s ‘party champions.’
A Night to Remember
The Public Art Fund Party was a celebration of art, community, and play. With its unique ping pong tables, living portrait installation, and silent auction, the event brought together creatives and collectors for an unforgettable night.
The Public Art Fund Party is an annual gala event held in New York City to celebrate the organization's mission of bringing contemporary art to public spaces.
Founded in 1971, the Public Art Fund has commissioned over 200 projects by renowned artists worldwide.
The party raises funds for the organization and features live music, auctions, and exhibitions showcasing the latest works from its roster of 'renowned artists'
